24 Hours of Daytona: Rahal matches dad's 1981 win

Monday

Jan 31, 2011 at 12:01 AMJan 31, 2011 at 10:14 AM

Graham Rahal's new affiliation with Chip Ganassi Racing already has paid a winning dividend and given him bragging rights with his father - the 22-year-old from New Albany has a Rolex watch to prove it.

Graham Rahal's new affiliation with Chip Ganassi Racing already has paid a winning dividend and given him bragging rights with his father - the 22-year-old from New Albany has a Rolex watch to prove it.

Rahal was part of the four-driver Ganassi team that won the 24 Hours of Daytona that concluded yesterday, with veteran Scott Pruett steering the final two hours to beat Ganassi's other car, driven by Scott Dixon, for a one-two finish. It came 30 years after Rahal's father, Bobby, teamed with Brian Redman and Bob Garretson to win the Daytona race.

"Most drivers who compete in this event, and there have been thousands, will never get the opportunity to win this race," said Graham Rahal, who otherwise will be part of the Ganassi IndyCar effort for the first time this season. "And to have the chance to win it, and to have that chance at 22 with a great team, this is pretty sweet.

"When you hold the Rolex (awarded to each of the winning drivers) and look at it, this is what dreams are made of."

Bobby Rahal's win at Daytona in 1981 was the first major victory in a career that would include the 1986 Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar season titles in 1986, '87 and '92.

"It's been only 30 years since I won," said Bobby, who was at Daytona for his son's win. "I thought about that this whole weekend, of really how cool would that be if he was able to do it.

"I know he would have liked to have driven a little more, but I reminded him that he contributed all weekend, through the practice, qualifying and then with his drive. He led the race. What more do you need to do?"

Pataskala-based Mike Shank Racing's No.23 car, driven in the final stint by Martin Brundle, finished fourth. The other two Shank entries finished in the top 10, with the A.J. Allmendinger-led car seventh and the Ozz Negri-led car 10th.